I learned long ago to have a few backup plans ready, when there is scheduled track activity at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As early as 1967, rain has become a part of my personal Indianapolis 500 experience. We like to blame it on Indianapolis and the ever-present “window over Terre Haute”, but April (and May) showers are pretty common throughout the eastern United States.
How to Spend a Rainy Day at IMS
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on April 24, 2023 by OilpressureDay One of the IMS Open Test
Posted in Indianapolis 500 on April 21, 2023 by Oilpressure
Greetings from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway! The folks at Barber Motorsports Park are either ecstatic to have the IMS Open Test going on right now, or very unhappy. I can’t decide. It is great exposure to get fans fired up leading into the Month of May. On the other hand, With the Indianapolis 500 looming large and casting its vast shadow over everything IndyCar related – Barber may come off as an afterthought next weekend.
What an Improvement Over Last Year!
Posted in IndyCar on April 19, 2023 by Oilpressure
Last year at this time, the team then-known as Arrow McLaren SP unveiled the special livery for the Indianapolis 500 that was unique to each of their three cars for Pato O’Ward, Felix Rosenqvist and Juan Montoya. A few fans claimed to like the color schemes, but I thought they were hideous.
Random Thoughts on Long Beach
Posted in IndyCar on April 17, 2023 by Oilpressure
Sometimes the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach does not live up to the hype. That was not the case with yesterday’s race. There was strategy, drama, excitement, chaos and a first-time IndyCar winner, in Kyle Kirkwood.. There was also a reshuffling of the point standings that saw Kirkwood move up a whopping fourteen spots to fifth. There is also a new points leader, as Marcus Ericsson reclaims the top spot he held after St. Petersburg. After a rough day, Pato O’Ward moves back to second in points – fifteen points behind Ericsson.
Long Beach Preview
Posted in IndyCar on April 14, 2023 by Oilpressure
Although the NTT IndyCar Series is headed into the third race of the season, I feel like the season is finally underway for the first time. Going a month in between the first and second race of the season will do that to you. Now we are less than two weeks removed from a great race that people are still talking about, and we are already headed into another race. It seems that we are finally getting some momentum and rhythm to the season.
What if it Happens Again?
Posted in IndyCar on April 12, 2023 by Oilpressure
Race fans got a grim reminder this past weekend that we follow a very dangerous sport, when sprint car driver Justin Owen was fatally injured at Lawrenceburg Speedway in southeastern Indiana – just across the state line from Cincinnati, this past Saturday night. Owen lost control of his car, when he went high in Turn Three, and tumbled violently striking the catch-fencing. He succumbed to his injuries, and all racing activity was canceled for the rest of the night. Please continue to pray for the family of Justin Owen.
“Pit Pass Indy”
Posted in IndyCar on April 5, 2023 by Oilpressure
I don’t listen to many podcasts. I’m guessing that’s an age-related thing. Not many people my age listen to podcasts. I probably listen to more than I claim, however. I have roughly 335 episodes of The Talk of Gasoline Alley on my phone. I randomly listen to those when walking, doing yard work or riding in my car. That’s especially true at this time of year, when I’m starting to get really fired-up about the Indianapolis 500. Occasionally, I’ll listen to the most recent episode of Trackside on Wednesday mornings if I didn’t catch it live the night before; but normally I listen to it live on Tuesday nights.
Oilpressure 